Agreement to fund work for the completion of Autoroute 30

Ottawa, Ontario, May 21, 2004- The governments of Canada and Quebec today announced they have reached an agreement to fund work to complete Autoroute 30 between Châteauguay and Vaudreuil-Dorion. The first phase of the work will include joint investments of $21 million to finance studies and other preliminary work to explore the potential for a public-private partnership to complete this section of the four-lane divided highway, spanning 35 kilometres. The eastern section of Highway 30 between Candiac and Saint-Constant will be wholly undertaken and funded by the Government of Quebec.

"I am very happy that the Government of Canada is contributing to one of the most important projects in the greater Montréal area," said the Honourable Andy Scott, Minister of State (Infrastructure). "Today's announcement underlines, yet again, the desire of the federal government to work in partnership with the Government of Quebec and provides another example of the "New Deal" at work for the people of Quebec."

"This agreement represents the first phase of a comprehensive agreement to jointly finance the completion of this highway project, which has been anticipated for years. We can now take the necessary steps to put a private-public partnership together," announced Yvon Marcoux, Minister of Transport for Quebec.

"The completion of Autoroute 30 will reduce congestion on Montréal's major thoroughfares and improve access to markets in Ontario and the United States, both for Quebec companies and for those in Atlantic Canada," said the Honourable Tony Valeri, Minister of Transport.

Minister Marcoux reiterated that choosing a public-private partnership approach allows for economies of scale that are provided by this contracting approach, at the same time as sharing the inherent risks among all parties and gaining access to additional sources of financing. "The agreement we are announcing demonstrates our firm commitment to complete Autoroute 30 and our desire to choose best possible approaches," said the minister.

The funds provided through this agreement will finance the services of technical experts; the completion of studies, analyses and other preliminary work to examine the eventual conditions for a public-private partnership; and, if found appropriate, proceeding to the selection of a private-sector partner in a transparent, equitable and open manner. The Government of Canada's investment will be made from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.

For further information contact:

Mary Johnson
Office of the Minister of State (Infrastructure)
Ottawa
(613) 952-1684

Isabelle Merizzi
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport of Quebec
(418) 643-6980

Christina Van Loon
Office of the Minister of Transport
Ottawa
(613) 991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
Communications and Promotion
(613) 948-1148